Apricot tree named ‘APRILOVE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apricot tree, denominated ‘APRILOVE’, characterized by its self-fertility and no susceptibility to pests and diseases and by fruits of very good firmness, of very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting, and with an orange flesh, of high eating quality, aromatic, with a very high level of sugar, and with an attractive luminous orange red skin on a dark orange background.

Botanical classification: Prunus armeniaca L.

Variety denomination: ‘APRILOVE’.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No.2017/3040 filed on Nov. 23, 2017, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apricottree, Prunus armeniaca L., which has been given the variety denomination‘APRILOVE’. This new tree produces fruit with a long shelf life withoutalteration after harvesting, very good eating quality, and orange fleshfruit for fresh market in at the end of June or in July in thePyrénées-Orientales department, France.

Contrast is made to ‘APRIDELICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,631), a similarapricot tree variety, for reliable description. Contrast is also made tothe known female parent variety.

The new variety named ‘APRILOVE’ is a promising candidate for commercialsuccess in that it has very attractive fruits with long shelf lifewithout alteration after harvesting. This new variety results from ourplant-breeding program aimed at obtaining self-pollinating apricot treesproducing fruits of sweet and very aromatic taste, with an attractiveorange skin covered by an appealing orange red blush. One of our mainconcerns is also the production of new varieties producing fruits havinga long shelf life after harvesting, to facilitate long distanceshipping. Our final purpose is the production of a range of new apricottree varieties differing by their time of maturity, while producingfruits of very similar characteristics, to provide markets with almostindistinguishable fruits during the whole period of production ofapricot.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The ‘APRILOVE’ apricot tree originated in a cultivated area of the southof France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales departement, where it was tested.

This place is under a Mediterranean climate (a temperate area), on theMediterranean coastline. Winters are gentle and summers warm and dry.The amount of days with temperatures below 7° Celsius can vary between600 and 1200 hours per year. The place is sunny, with 2400 to 2800 hoursof sunny days per year on average. The prevailing wind is called‘Tramontane’: it dries the air, clears the sky from clouds, but itsintensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruit quantity and/orquality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations areirregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount ofrainy days does not exceed 80 days per year and are mostly found inSpring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitationsoccasionally happen. Summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘APRILOVE’ resulted from an open pollination of the apricot treevariety named ‘ASFCOT0201’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,093) which was usedas the seed parent (female parent). Thus, the pollen parent remainsunknown.

The ‘APRILOVE’ variety was propagated by grafting on a ‘FRANC INRA®MONTCLAR’ (non-patented) rootstock trees. It has been determined to haveunique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercialfresh fruit production. There are no known effects of the standardrootstock trees set forth above on the scion cultivar. Asexuallypropagated plants remained true to the original tree and allcharacteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plantwas reproduced asexually by us in Les Régalines, Route d'Alenya, LaPrade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. Moreparticularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of apricot tree blooms generally during thesecond half of March in the Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France.Sometimes, the blooming period begins earlier in March. Moreparticularly, the blooming period generally starts from March 5^(th) toMarch 27^(th). However, it was observed that its early date of bloomingseems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

The first fruit of ‘APRILOVE’ apricot tree ripens in June or early inJuly, generally later than the similar apricot variety named‘APRIDELICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,631). However, it was observed thatits early date of maturity seems to be highly dependant on climaticconditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing, which are as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows a view of an apricot tree ofthe new variety ‘APRILOVE’ in orchard, bearing fruits;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which depicts the flower buds at differentdevelopment stages, and the reverse and side view of the flower and thereproductive organs with petals removed, of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph, which shows the upper and lower sides ofleaves and three whole fruits of the new variety ‘APRILOVE’, and afourth fruit, cut in halves, with the stone left in one of the halvesfor depicting the fruit flesh the stone and the stone cavity of the newvariety, as well as the leaves of the variety;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing a close view of typical specimensof the new variety ‘APRILOVE’ at ripening time.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing different view of three wholestones of the new variety, and a third stone cut in halves for depictingthe kernel of the stone and 2 kernels.

The enclosed photographs show plants in their third growing season forleaves, fruits, stones and plants in their fourth growing season fortrees, trunk and flowers.

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves andfruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate whencompared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variationsin soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potentialfor commercial production of fresh fruit by ‘APRILOVE’ is high, due tofruit very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting.

Trees are medium vigorous and medium stature in a naturally semi-uprightout aspect. The time of beginning of flowering is considered medium;flowering begins generally during the second half of the month of March.The flower petals are medium and colored in white or in an extremelypale pink. Leaf glands are present and round. Time of maturity forconsumption is considered medium, namely at the end of June or early inJuly. The fruit flesh is considered orange. The fruit skin is mediumthick and colored with an orange red blush on a orange background. Thestone is medium size. Fruit taste is very aromatic and with a high levelof sugar.

Compared to ‘APRIDELICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,631) apricot tree, thefruits of ‘APRILOVE’ variety ripens earlier, as set forth above.Moreover, the fruits of ‘APRILOVE’ are colored with an orange red blushcovering 75 to 90% on the fruit skin surface, whereas the fruit producedby the similar variety ‘APRIDELICE’ show an orange red blush covering 65to 75% of the skin surface. The fruits of the new variety ‘APRILOVE’ areconsidered very firm whereas the fruits of ‘APRIDELICE’ are firm. Theflavour of the flesh is considered less sugary for ‘APRIDELICE’,compared to ‘APRILOVE’ flavour. More particularly, the fruit flesh of‘APRILOVE’ has a very good taste, very sugary, between 20 and 27 brix.In comparison, the fruits of the ‘APRIDELICE’ variety have a good taste,sugary, with between 16 and 19 brix.

Compared to its seed parent ‘ASFCOT0201’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,093),‘APRILOVE’ is a self-fertile variety. On the contrary, ‘ASFCOT0201’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,093) is considered sterile and needs to bepollinated by other varieties in order to get yearly production.

Moreover, compared to its seed parent ‘ASFCOT0201’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,093) the ‘APRILOVE’ variety ripens approximately two weeks earlier.

Moreover, the ‘APRILOVE’ variety produces very attractive fruits, withan orange red blush covering between 75 and 90% of the fruit skin, on anorange background. In comparison, ‘ASFCOT0201’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,093) apricot tree produces fruits with a blush covering 40 to 60% ofthe skin, on a yellow orange background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of apricot tree, the following was observed on trees intheir third growing season (second year of production) for leaves,fruits, stones and plants in their fourth growing season (third year ofproduction) for trees, trunk and flowers under the ecological conditionsprevailing at the orchards located near the town of Elne,Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. All observations have been doneon rootstock cultivars. Used rootstocks were ‘FRANC INRA® MONTCLAR’ (nonpatented) trees. All major color code designations are by reference toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by The RoyalHorticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—.        -   Generally.—Considered medium as compared to other common            commercial apricot cultivars. Trees reach about 250 cm            during the first growing season. Trees were pruned during            each following season to a height of approximately 250 cm            and to a diameter of 200 cm.        -   Spread.—Approximately 200 cm. The whole orchard was oriented            to a central leader organization, with tree lines spaced of            4.0 meters and trees spaced of 1.0 meter in a same tree            line.        -   Vigor.—Considered medium vigorous. Current season shoots            growth could reach 100 cm. During the first year of growth,            trees growth reaches 250 cm. In the second and following            seasons, the size of trees is reduced to 250 cm by pruning.            However, these characteristics are dependant on soils            fertility, cultural practices, and prevailing climatic            conditions.        -   Productivity.—The productivity is considered good, and            regular. Fruit set is spaced by thinning to develop the            remaining fruit into the desired market sized fruit. Because            of the fruit size, the new variety only requires a medium            thinning for the tree valorisation. Thinning was necessary            every year during the years of observation. The number of            the fruit set varies with the prevailing climatic conditions            and cultural practices employed during the bloom period and            is therefore not distinctive of the present variety.        -   Bearer.—Very regular. No alternate bearing was observed.        -   Form.—The ‘APRILOVE’ variety has a naturally semi-spreading            shape.        -   Density.—Considered highly dense, in order to obtain and            observe fruits more quickly.        -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in            France. The variety appears to be hardy under the central            Pyrénées-Orientales departement typical climatic conditions.            Experimentations on the same orchard in Elne,            Pyrénées-Orientales department, with winter chilling            requirement below 7.2° C. comprised between 350 hours and            1200 hours according to the specificities of the year,            namely 1031 hours in 2012-2013, 777 hours in 2013-2014, 893            hours in 2014-2015, 718 hours in 2015-2016, and 825 hours in            2016-2017 and 1017 hours in 2017-2018 showed a good            behaviour of the tree in all cases. No damages were caused            by ascertained temperatures as low as −12 degrees Celsius in            winter. The tree was also very resistant to frosty            springtime weather.-   Trunk:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 75.0 to 80.0 millimeters in diameter            when measured at a distance of approximately 20.0            centimeters above the soil level.        -   Bark texture.—Considered rough with lenticels.        -   Bark coloration.—The bark has mostly a light brown color            (RHS Greyed Orange 177 A).        -   Lenticels.—.        -   Lenticel color.—A beige color (RHS Greyed Orange 164 C to            RHS Greyed Orange 164 D).        -   Density.—The number of lenticels is approximately 3            lenticels per cm².        -   Size.—Lenticels are approximately 2.0 to 2.5 millimeters in            width and 3.0 to 4.5 millimeters long.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—The branches are pruned every year to approximately            1.0 meter in length.        -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other apricot varieties.            The current season shoots have a diameter of about 5.0 to            7.0 millimeters, and mature branches have a diameter of            about 9.0 to 12.0 millimeters.        -   Surface texture.—Current season shoots have a smooth            texture. Mature branches are medium rough. Roughness            increases with trees age. Wood which is several years old            has furrowed appearance.        -   Crotch angles.—The crotch angles are generally 30 degrees            from the trunk axis, for current season shoots. At maturity,            the crotch angle increases with fruits weight, until 50            degrees. This particular characteristic is not considered            distinctive of the variety, however.        -   Current season shoots.—.        -   Internode length.—Generally 8.0 to 11.0 millimeters.        -   Color of current season's shoots.—Considered light brown to            green (RHS Grey Brown N199 A) on lower part of new shoot            tips, whereas the upper part is darker and colored in brown            (RHS Greyed Orange 166 A). The current season's shoots color            evolves and turns to mature branches color when aging.        -   Mature branches.—.        -   Internode length.—Generally 12.0 to 15.0 millimeters.        -   Color of mature branches.—Light brown (RHS Greyed Orange 165            A).        -   Vigor.—Considered spread as for all the apricot varieties.        -   Lenticels.—.        -   Density.—Lenticels are present, just as on the trunk,            especially on mature branches. More particularly, 6            lenticels appear per cm² on mature branches.        -   Size.—Considered small, and slightly smaller than trunk's            lenticels, they are approximately 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters            wide and 0.5 to 1.0 millimeter height.        -   Color.—Considered beige color (RHS Greyed Orange 164 B or            RHS Greyed Orange 164 C).        -   Form.—Round and stretched.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the species.        -   Leaf length.—The leave's length is between 75.0 and 90.0            millimeters with leaf petiole. The medium length is 81.8            millimeters.        -   Leaf width.—The leave's width is between 67.0 and 75.0            millimeters. The medium width is 71.0 millimeters.        -   Leaf form in cross section.—Concave.        -   Leaf form.—Almost circular.        -   Leaf tip form.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base form.—Generally truncate.        -   Leaf margins.—Considered dentate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Upper surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Lower surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Leaf color.—.        -   Upper leaf surface.—The color of the upper leaf surface is            green (RHS Yellow Green 147 A).        -   Lower surface.—A lighter green than the upper leaf surface            color. The lower surface of leaves is RHS Yellow Green 147            B.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.        -   Mid-vein.—.        -   Thickness.—Approximately 1.5 millimeters when measured at            the base of the leaf.        -   Color.—Red purple (RHS Red Purple Group 59 B).        -   Other veins color.—Light green (RHS Green Group 143 B).        -   Uniformity.—Leaves are of medium size and generally found            alone. No stipules are generally found.        -   Leaf petioles.—.        -   Size.—Generally long.        -   Length.—The leaf petiole length is between 36.0 and 42.0            millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.0 millimeters.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Petioles colour.—.        -   Upper petiole surface.—Depending on climatic conditions and            sunlight exposure, the anthocyanic coloration on petiole's            upper surface is generally considered red (RHS Red Group            53 B) to purple red (RHS Red Purple Group 59 B).        -   Lower petiole surface.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A).        -   Leaf glands.—.        -   Size.—Considered small.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 millimeter.        -   Number.—Between 2 and 4 glands per leaf, sometimes 5 glands            per leaf.        -   Type.—Circular.        -   Margins.—Smooth and regular.        -   Position.—Alternate between upper portion of petiole and            lower portion of leaf blade.        -   Color.—Generally grey orange (RHS Greyed Orange Group 165            A).        -   Leaf stipules.—.        -   Generally.—No leaf stipules were observed.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower buds.—.        -   Generally.—At pre-floral stage of development, the floral            buds are conic in form with a very rounded tip (ball            shaped). Their form is evolving until blooming, with            variables dimensions. At the pre-floral stage, the size of            flower buds is 9.0 to 11.0 millimeters wide and            approximately 14.0 to 16.0 millimeters long. Just before            blooming, floral buds are approximately 12.0 millimeters            wide and approximately 17.0 millimeters long. Generally, a            bud is found alone or in group of two or three buds. The            distribution of the flower buds is considered homogenous on            the trees.        -   Color.—This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity            to bloom. At pre-floral stage of development, the bottom of            the flowers buds, or calyx, or flower receptacle, is of            purple (RHS Red 46 A) or purple-brown color (RHS Greyed            Purple 184 B to RHS Greyed Purple 184 C) on its outer face.            The inner surface of the calyx is considered orange (RHS            Orange N25 A to RHS Orange N25 B). The corolla, formed by            the petals, is generally of white (RHS White Group N 155 B            or RHS White Group N 155 C) to pale pink color (RHS Greyed            Purple 186 D or RHS Red Purple 62 D) on both surfaces of the            petals. The petal color generally evolves until the end of            the blooming period, becoming whiter and whiter.        -   Hardiness.—The buds are considered hardy under typical            central Pyrénées-Orientales departement climatic conditions.            No winter injury was noted during the last several years of            evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales departement,            with winter temperatures as low as −10 degrees Celsius in            January. The current variety has not been intentionally            subjected to drought or heat stress, but the variety showed            a very good resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42            degrees Celsius with an average temperature between 28 and            30 degrees Celsius during 3 weeks in summer.        -   Date of bloom.—During March, sometimes early in April.        -   First bloom.—The first bloom was observed on Mar. 26, 2013.        -   Petal fall.—Apr. 6, 2013.        -   Blooming time.—Considered medium season in relative            comparison to other commercial apricot cultivars grown in            the Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. Thus, the first            blooming time was from March 26^(th) until Apr. 6, 2013,            then from March 12^(th) until Mar. 20, 2014, then from March            27^(th) until Apr. 2, 2015, then from March 19^(th) until            Mar. 29, 2016 and then from March 5^(th) until Mar. 17,            2017.        -   Duration of bloom.—Medium, approximately between 7 and 13            days.        -   Spurs.—.        -   Lenticels.—A few lenticels are present, more particularly            between 2 to 7 per linear centimeter, but their number may            vary with environmental conditions.        -   Form.—Ovate.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 millimeters.        -   Color.—Orange grey (RHS Greyed Orange 165 A).        -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy type            of flower (rosette).        -   Flower size.—Medium. Flower diameter at full bloom is            approximately 28.0 to 34.0 millimeters.        -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant to very abundant,            between 40 and 45 flowers per linear meter. Flowers are            generally found in bunches.        -   Flower bud frequency.—Generally 1 flower bud or several            flower buds per groups of 2 to 3.        -   Petal size.—.        -   Generally.—Medium.        -   Length.—Generally between 12.0 and 16.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Generally between 13.0 and 18.0 millimeters.        -   Petal form.—Round-shaped.        -   Petal count.—Generally 5, and sometimes more than 5, namely            6 petals. The petals are separated when 5 petals are present            and overlapping or slightly overlapping when six petals are            present.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth, soft and glabrous. Sometimes, petals            are very slightly creased.        -   Petal color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is            fully opened, both surfaces of petals are colored with a            white (RHS White Group N 155 B or RHS White Group N 155 C or            RHS White Group N 155) to a very light pink (RHS Greyed            Purple Group 186 D) color.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet.        -   Petal claw.—.        -   Form.—Narrow.        -   Length.—About 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters.        -   Width.—About 1.5 millimeters at the base.        -   Color.—Generally the claw is colored like petal color (RHS            White Group N 155 B to RHS White Group N 155 C to RHS White            Group N 155 D or RHS Greyed Purple Group 186 D), sometimes            to a very light pink (RHS Greyed Purple Group 186 D) color            and darker than the petal color (RHS Red Purple 60 C).        -   Petal margins form.—Smooth and sometimes slightly wavy            especially near the base.        -   Petal base.—Narrow at point of attachment.        -   Petal apex.—Wide-dome shaped.        -   Petal peduncle.—.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 to 4.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 to 3.0 millimeters.        -   Color.—Generally light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 B or RHS            Yellow Green C) and covered with small overlapping scales            colored purple brown (RHS Greyed Red 178 A or RHS Greyed Red            178 B) to orange brown (RHS Greyed Orange 175 A or RHS            Greyed Orange 175 B).        -   Sepals.—.        -   Generally.—Star shaped around the corolla base.        -   Size.—Considered medium.        -   Length.—Approximately between 5.0 and 7.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately between 4.0 and 6.0 millimeters.        -   Sepal count.—Generally 5, sometimes 6 sepals.        -   Form.—Almost triangular, with a slightly pointed apex.        -   Margins.—Smooth.        -   Color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is open,            the lower surface of the sepals is considered of purple            color (RHS Greyed Purple 185 A or RHS Greyed Purple 185 B or            RHS Greyed Purple 185 C or RHS Greyed Red 184 B). The upper            surface of the sepals is colored in purple (RHS Red 46 A).        -   Surface texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Stamens.—.        -   Average number of stamens per flower.—Between 25 and 36.        -   Size.—Approximately between 9.0 and 14.0 millimeters in            length, generally higher than pistil's length, when not            equal.        -   Color.—White (RHS White N155 D or RHS White Group 155 B or            RHS White Group 155 C).        -   Anthers.—.        -   Size.—Generally small to medium in length.        -   Shape.—Cordate.        -   Color.—Yellow (RHS Yellow 11 A) to orange yellow (RHS Yellow            Orange 16 A to RHS Yellow Orange 16 B), which may evolve            with maturity.        -   Pistil.—.        -   Number.—Usually 1.        -   Length.—Approximately 16.0 to 19.0 millimeters including the            ovary. The pistil's length is generally smaller or equal            than stamen's length, the pistil being considered without            the ovary.        -   Color.—Considered very pale green (RHS Yellow Green 150 D or            RHS Yellow Green 145 C to RHS Yellow Green 145 D) to white            (RHS White Group 155 C) depending on the maturity stage.        -   Pollen.—.        -   Pollen production.—Pollen production is considered good. The            variety is self-fertile.        -   Color.—Yellow (RHS Yellow 7 B) to orange yellow color (RHS            Yellow Orange 16 A to RHS Yellow Orange 16 B).        -   Calyx.—.        -   Internal surface texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Color.—At the stage F of blooming, the inner surface of the            calyx, namely the flower receptacle, is considered yellow            orange (RHS Yellow Orange 17 A or RHS Yellow Orange 23 A)            whereas the outer surface is purple (RHS Greyed Purple 185 B            or RHS Greyed Purple 185 C or RHS Red 46 A) becoming            slightly lighter near calyx base and light green near the            peduncle.        -   Ovary.—.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Height.—Between 3.0 and 4.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Between 1.5 and 2.0 millimeters.        -   Color.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 C to RHS Yellow            Green 145 D).        -   Stigma.—.        -   Position compared to anthers.—The stigma is below the            anthers, or at the same level.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 millimeter.        -   Color.—Yellowish (RHS Greyed Yellow 162 A).-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity.—Considered medium. Generally, fruits become mature            during June or early in July.        -   Date of first picking.—Jul. 5, 2013.        -   Date of last picking.—The date of harvest varies slightly            with the prevailing climatic conditions. The ‘APRILOVE’            variety has a medium date of picking and a grouped maturity.            The maturity is usually grouped within 6 to 9 days and the            harvest is generally performed in two runs. The first            picking was carry on from July 5^(th) to Jul. 11, 2013, then            from June 14^(th) to Jun. 20, 2014. The next picking times            were from June 17^(th) to Jun. 22, 2015, and from July            4^(th) to Jul. 9, 2016, then from June 20^(th) to Jun. 28,            2017 and then from June 26^(th) to Jul. 1, 2018.        -   Size.—.        -   Generally.—Considered medium to large (size 2A+).        -   Length.—Approximately and between 49.0 and 57.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately between 50.0 and 54.0 millimeters.        -   Thickness.—Approximately between 46.0 and 48.0 millimeters.        -   Typical weight.—Generally between 70.0 and 80.0 grams. This            characteristic is high dependent especially upon the            prevailing cultural practices, and therefore is not            particularly distinctive of the variety.        -   Fruit form.—.        -   Generally.—Round and slightly oblong near the apex and at            the fruit base. The fruit is considered to be symmetrical.        -   Suture.—.        -   Generally.—Very slightly marked, extending from the base to            the apex.        -   Color.—The suture has generally a color similar to the whole            fruit color. Thus, the suture is colored with an orange red            color (RHS Orange red N34 A).        -   Ventral surface.—.        -   Form.—Round to slightly flattened.        -   Apex.—Flat to slightly retuse.        -   Base.—Straight to slightly retuse.        -   Stem cavity.—Shallow. Average depth of the stem cavity is            about 8.0 to 10.0 millimeters. Average width is about 12.0            to 15.0 millimeters.        -   Stem.—.        -   Size.—Generally small and short. Stem length is about 5.0            millimeters. Stem diameter is about 3.0 millimeters.        -   Color.—Stem color is generally green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A            or RHS Yellow Green 145 B).        -   Fruit skin.—.        -   Thickness.—Considered medium, adherent and resistant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Present but very light, almost non-existent.        -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.        -   Color.—.        -   Blush color.—This blush color is orange red (RHS Orange Red            N34 A). The orange red blush covers between 75 and 90% of            the fruit skin surface for fruits that are exposed to            sunlight. The percentage of the blush on the fruit skin            surface can vary and is generally dependent upon the            prevailing conditions under which the fruit was grown.        -   Ground color.—The ground color covers 10 to 25% of the fruit            skin surface, and is considered orange (RHS Orange 25 B).        -   Adherence to flesh.—Very adherent.        -   Taste.—Moderately acid and sugary.        -   Flesh.—.        -   Ripens.—The maturing of the fruit is uniform.        -   Texture.—Fine and firm. Very melting and juicy at end of            maturity.        -   Fibers.—Generally none observed.        -   Aroma.—Very present, pronounced.        -   Firmness.—Firm. Holds firmness over the time.        -   Eating quality.—Considered very good and with a high level            of sugars.        -   Flavor.—Considered very good. Semi sweet and with a good            balance between sugar and acidity. Very aromatic.        -   Juice.—Very juicy. The juiciness increases with maturity.        -   Brix.—Generally superior to 20.0 degrees, between 20.0 and            27.0 degrees. This characteristic varies slightly with the            number of fruits per tree, prevailing cultural practices and            the surrounding climatic conditions.        -   Flesh color.—Considered medium orange (RHS Orange 25 B).-   Stone:    -   -   Stone cavity.—.        -   Color.—The stone cavity shows the same orange color (RHS            Orange 25 B) as the flesh color.        -   Length.—Similar to the stone's length, approximately between            27.0 and 30.0 millimeters.        -   Stone type.—Free, but the stone seems to be slightly            attached to the flesh through its base.        -   Size.—Considered medium for the variety. The stone size            varies depending upon the tree vigor, crop load and            prevailing growing conditions.        -   Length.—Approximately 27.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 20.0 millimeters.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 12.0 millimeters.        -   Stone form.—Ovoid.        -   Stone form (viewed from stem end).—Ovate flattened.        -   Stone form (lateral view).—Oblong.        -   Stone base shape.—Round to slightly concave.        -   Stone apex shape.—Round, generally not pointed.        -   Symmetry.—Symmetric.        -   Stone surface.—.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth to slightly rough.        -   Ridges at stone surface.—The ridges are present on both            sides of the stone. A ridge is generally narrow. The ridges            begin at the base and are extending all along the stone            length.        -   Stone color.—The color of the dry stone is generally            considered a greyed orange (RHS Greyed Orange 164 B to RHS            Greyed Orange 164 C).        -   Tendency to split.—Splitting is absent.        -   Kernel.—.        -   Taste.—Bitter.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—Approximately 17.0 millimeters.        -   Width.—Approximately 12.0 millimeters.        -   Thickness.—Approximately 6.0 millimeters.        -   Form.—Ovate.        -   Color.—The kernel skin is a greyed orange (RHS Greyed Orange            164 B or RHS Greyed Orange 164 C or RHS Greyed Orange 165            B). The almond, which is the seed of the kernel, is            considered white (RHS White 155 D) and has a bitter taste.        -   Use.—The subject variety ‘APRILOVE’ is considered to be an            apricot tree with a medium season maturity, and which            produces fruits that are considered very firm (the firmer            among all our varieties), attractively and luminously            colored with a high proportion of orange red blush covering            the skin surface. Fruits have a balanced taste between            acidity and sugar. They are excellent for uncooked or cooked            consumption, melting and juicy when at full maturity. Fruits            have excellent gustative qualities and are very aromatic.            They are also useful for both local markets and very            long-distance shipping.        -   Keeping quality.—Good. Fruits are well preserved during at            least 3 weeks after harvest in a cold atmosphere. Fruits are            considered to have a long shelf life after harvesting            without alteration. After 4 weeks stored at 3° C., the            fruits were still quite firm, very juicy and with a very            good eating quality.        -   Shipping quality.—Considered good. The fruits of the new            apricot variety showed very little skin scarring or flesh            bruises in picking, packing and shipping trials.        -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular            susceptibilities were noted. Under meticulous observations            during planting, growing and harvesting of fruits, no            particular resistance or sensitivity to plant or fruits            diseases were noticed. Any variety, observed during indexing            of plant characteristics, with abnormal fungus, bacterial            virus or insect sensitivity is destroyed and eliminated from            our breeding program.

Although the new variety of apricot tree possesses the describedcharacteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailingnear Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France, it should beunderstood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristicsincident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pestcontrol and horticultural management are to be expected.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apricot tree as illustratedand described, characterized by its self-fertility and no susceptibilityto pests and diseases and by fruits of very good firmness, of very longshelf life without alteration after harvesting, and with an orangeflesh, of high eating quality, aromatic and with a very high level ofsugar, and with an attractive luminous orange red skin on a dark orangebackground.